Mono or braid ?

[Kentish Bassman]

I need to replace the line on my boat reel and I would like to know what other people prefer. At the moment the reel is loaded with 30lb mono, I can`t remember the make, it`s been on the reel for ages. A mate reckons braid is better, but as I`m on a budget, I don`t want to spend too much so any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[codfathers father]

For sporting preference its got to be braid but it does cost about 4 times the price of mono

 

[oldessox]

You won't believe the difference when you use braid after using mono , you can feel every little knock, tap and bump at the end of the line at 150ft like it was 4ft down , it's brilliant stuff . It's much thinner than mono so I'd buy 50lb if you want it to have the same feel as mono in your hand , one thing against it is that as it has no stretch it's easier for the fish to tear a hook out than with mono so you might bump a few more fish off , but the way I look at it is the ones bumped off are only a few compared to the extra takes you get anyway.
I'd go for braid , definitely!

Ray

 

[thewestwind]

At first glance Braid does appear to be expensive but if you look a little closer it's not too bad.

For example buy 300yards of 40lb or 50lb Braid for around the £20 mark. Spool up with nylon backing and top off with 150yards of Braid. Use this for a good few sessions or until you see any kind of wear and then reverse the Braid onto your reel. Ditto with the other 150yards as and when required.
Result 4 fillings of Braid at approx £5 a filling, not too bad really.

As for Braid vs Mono on Boat there's no comparison at all as Braid wins every time.

 

[billyturbot]

good advice 60LB braid and 40LB shock leader cant go far wrong

 

[Norman]

It's an old often brought up question .....................
but only one answer - Braid ... Dynon 3000 - 55lb .... The Biz !
(there can be only one ! )

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

Ditto and ditto again ,it is indeed the bogs dollocks, and not a bad price either ,£18 in I.D. last time I bought it or also on E bay.

 

[Norman]

"bogs dollocks"
must`ve took some careful typing there steve, I can`t even say it correctly

Norm

 

[Kentish Bassman]

Thank you all for the advice, I will definitely go for the braid but I am a bit confused about the breaking strain. 40lb or more seems a bit excessive, surely 30lb would be okay especially as I was using 30lb mono before, could someone please explain why I need the heavier line, unless of course there are some real monster fish out there.

 

[mark]

make the braid heavier than the snoods and mono your rigs are made of

when you snag the rig or a part of it breaks first, leaving the braid intact

 

[Kentish Bassman]

Thanks Mark. I really don`t know why I didn`t think of that. I must be going a bit dopey in my old age.

 

[mick dunn]

I used to use 30lb mono when boat fishing-cheap and cheerful and did the job ok.
Because i was in a Police Boat compo at Weymouth a couple of years ago i splashed out and bought a nice Diawa 20lb rod and reel outfit loaded with 30lb braid.
When i used the braid i was honestly amazed.
The easiest way to describe it was like looking at sonar on the fish finder. I could picture the bottom of the sea as my wieght bounced along on the bottom. I could feel my wieght sliding up and down the sides of rocks etc. The slightest bite felt like it was under 2 feet of water.I lost a lot of fish by striking early.
down side is when you get a tangle-its murder to get out. Another is when you get snagged-the braid acts like cheesewire-you cannot just grab hold of it or it will slice through your fingers.
I take a couple of reels one with braid on and the other with 50lb mono.
Mick.